Excellent post and demonstration. I appreciate all your hard work and video making skills. Edit, I watched it twice and I'm sold on it. I make wallets and purses. Often times I need to use my homemade stitching pony on it's side when sewing gussets. I get tired of weighing it down with a 10# dumbell. Thanks again.
@@NorfolkHandmade You sold me on it. 360º Stitching Clamp - Aluminum Alloy Walnut 1 $250.00Scroll for more items Cost summary Description Price Subtotal $250.00 Shipping Free Total USD $250.00
The Maxita is totally worth it. If you find yourself going back and looking at it, just pull the trigger and buy it. I was a little disappointed to see that UT was made in China, but honestly this clamp is very well built. I was super impressed.
I started out with making my own, very similar to the first option. Got tired of my thread snagging. Bought one similar to the second one. Worked ok for a while. Then, Corter Leather showed me the 'Leap Frog' stitich. No stitching pony. Now I am faster and my stitches are more consistent and look better. Still a saddle stitch, but in mid air. I do not have to fiddle with a pony. I do small to medium sized leather projects. My pony is living in a corral somewhere.
For sure! A pony or clamp certainly isn’t necessary. Personally I don’t like stitching without a pony, I find there’s a lot of extra movement trying hold the piece and dropping the thread…picking it up, etc. Regardless of the method stitching with one for a while is always best. A lot of people flip flop between methods and don’t give your body the time to develop the muscle memory.
It’s a wonderful tool to have in the shop. I actually look forward to using it, that’s the sign of a well crafted tool (despite some of its shortcomings).
I also have the Maxita and love it. I was using one a Made and the Maxita gives a much better experience. It is versatile. I have the one in Cherry wood. I find the the knob and the latch hole very aggravating as well. I keep a Allen key wrench close by and slip it under the latch to open it. You can’t see them but there is a magnet on each side of the clamp. Enjoy all your videos 👍
Well, I pulled the trigger on getting one. The shop owes you a commission. The one really lame thing is the two grub screws they have. I understand that by tightening them--thus lowering--it allows for the breakdown and storage of the pony. As you mentioned, I replaced them with two 8mm coarse thread bolts. I seemed to have resolved the issue of the clamping lever being difficult to grasp. I adjusted the center turnbuckle to where I am able to close the lever so that the bottom is flush with the mortise. Because it's not locked and it's convex in the middle, I'm able to easily open it with my thumb and forefinger. I don't have an issue tightening the large knobs, that some have. The jaw width is advertised at 70mm from Maxita and at 2 3/4" from the shop. The actual measurement is 2 3/8". So that is just plain wrong. I looked at a few other brands including the Billim, but I'm happy I chose this one. It ain't cheap but I only cried once. Thanks for your work making the video.
Great to hear. Good call on the two screw. The grub screws are a strange choice for that situation. I’ll have to try that lever setup you mentioned. 👍🏻
Maybe they changed their design but the two grub screws I got with mine (ordered in Jan '24) were pointed on the end and are made to be completely bottomed out in the bore so that the points drive into the inner tube wall of the outer tube. I tightened them all the way down and the thing is solid as a rock.
The name "stitching pony" comes from back in the day where it looked like horse/pony (stool) because it had 4 legs and your clamp sticking up like the head of a pony and let not forget the rains aka stitching twine one in each hand 😁
Hi,thank you for this great video, very informative, interesting and really well explained and presented, food for thought, I love the design of the Verter clamp, I work with leather only as a hobby, the stitching pony I use at the moment is handmade by myself, a bit crude in the looks department 🤣but works well, but after watching your video I think it is time to upgrade. Thank you again, I have been watching your videos and have been subscribed for a quite a while now and you have helped a lot in the following techniques, preparation, stitching and the finishing of the job. Cheers and take care Sam Ps in reference to getting the toggle out of the recess, have you tried a strong magnet, epoxied onto a piece of dowel ( stained and polished the same as the main piece) this then can be stored out of the way on the clamp, when not in use
The finest quality stitching pony I've seen was designed and fabricated by an artisan in South Korea. He made 500 units and sold them all before I came across his video. It's been two years and he's yet to make more. The Maxita is a good design and appears to be very well made. However, there have been complaints about the screws that anchor the pony to the desk brace being too short and resulting in looseness. This can be solved by replacing the original screws with more suitable ones (as shown in the video). Also, as of the date of my post, the cherry is no longer sold and the walnut is sold out, leaving ash wood as the only remaining option at $208. The problem with the first pony is solved by either the English or French style stitching clam. Of course, these devices are much more expensive, and the best designs are no longer made because the artisans who made them passed away.
Thanks for your thoughts on this. There are a few different suppliers that carry the Maxita, aleatherstore, JunLinLeather and Little King Goods Supply to name a few. Yes, the grub screws provided in the model I purchased were not sufficient. I replaced them and have never had an issue with stability.
Informative. Just getting interested in this, not even gone to the stores yet to browse due to the time of the year. It would seem someone with basic wood working knowledge could build one to match the expensive model, and aside from the wood used, it would come out way cheaper.
The woodworking part would be fairly straight forward. The tough part is finding the hardware. Obviously if you use cheap wood and similar hardware it would be significantly cheaper but it wouldn’t look as nice. Also consider the time investment to design it and make it. I considered making one and quickly realized it would end up costing significantly more.
You really don’t need any fancy parts to make your own pony - for clamping, a M6/M8 80mm bolt and nut will work just fine. I mounted the jaws in the middle of a piece of wood so in use it sits crossways under both legs- more comfortable. You could do the same with the cheapest pony.
You’re right, you don’t need a fancy stitching pony to get started. You don’t need one at all of you stitch without one. The Maxita is a beautiful tool, a significant design and consideration went into it. It’s a tool I enjoy using, the others simple get the job done.
@@NorfolkHandmade I wasn't having a go at the Maxita - clearly a lot of thought has gone into it. Really just confirming what you have said- if you're just starting out, you can make / buy satisfactory tools to get you going. I tried stitching without a pony to be very much slower compared to using one.
In this video I review three different stitching clamp options, from the cheapest to the most expensive. If you are on the fence about which one to purchase, this video will help answer that question. Cheers Justin
Doing a little more research on the Maxita, the detailed photos reveal that the "walnut (color)" is not actually made of walnut. It is advertised as being made of an undisclosed "premium wood", but in some photos the grain doesn't match so some of these stitching clamps covered by a laminate. It's still a good stitching pony, but it isn't the quality you'd expect for the price. Products being made of inferior materials are very common with goods made in China. This is why the material used in Chinese manufactured goods is often referred to as "Chinesium".
Interesting, of the sources I listed they all state walnut and cherry. My advice to anyone looking to purchase, ask the supplier to confirm it’s solid wood. They will be able to look at the actual product to verify. 👍🏻
Excellent post and demonstration. I appreciate all your hard work and video making skills. Edit, I watched it twice and I'm sold on it. I make wallets and purses. Often times I need to use my homemade stitching pony on it's side when sewing gussets. I get tired of weighing it down with a 10# dumbell. Thanks again.
Thanks for asking the question! I hope this helps.
@@NorfolkHandmade You sold me on it.
360º Stitching Clamp - Aluminum Alloy
Walnut
1 $250.00Scroll for more items
Cost summary
Description Price
Subtotal $250.00
Shipping Free
Total USD $250.00
You won’t be disappointed. Where did you purchase it from?
Artisan Leather Supply, USA
That’s great!
The Maxita is totally worth it. If you find yourself going back and looking at it, just pull the trigger and buy it. I was a little disappointed to see that UT was made in China, but honestly this clamp is very well built. I was super impressed.
I started out with making my own, very similar to the first option. Got tired of my thread snagging. Bought one similar to the second one. Worked ok for a while. Then, Corter Leather showed me the 'Leap Frog' stitich. No stitching pony. Now I am faster and my stitches are more consistent and look better. Still a saddle stitch, but in mid air. I do not have to fiddle with a pony. I do small to medium sized leather projects. My pony is living in a corral somewhere.
For sure! A pony or clamp certainly isn’t necessary. Personally I don’t like stitching without a pony, I find there’s a lot of extra movement trying hold the piece and dropping the thread…picking it up, etc. Regardless of the method stitching with one for a while is always best. A lot of people flip flop between methods and don’t give your body the time to develop the muscle memory.
I guess the Maxita will be my third stitching pony. That is just such an elegant and well thought out design.
It’s a wonderful tool to have in the shop. I actually look forward to using it, that’s the sign of a well crafted tool (despite some of its shortcomings).
Great demo... I would love to see a shop tour video. Tanks
It’s on the list!
I also have the Maxita and love it. I was using one a Made and the Maxita gives a much better experience. It is versatile. I have the one in Cherry wood. I find the the knob and the latch hole very aggravating as well. I keep a Allen key wrench close by and slip it under the latch to open it. You can’t see them but there is a magnet on each side of the clamp. Enjoy all your videos 👍
I forgot to mention the magnets, your right. I never use them and they are so well hidden I forget they are there. 👍🏻
Excellent review
Thank you 🙏🏻
Well, I pulled the trigger on getting one. The shop owes you a commission. The one really lame thing is the two grub screws they have. I understand that by tightening them--thus lowering--it allows for the breakdown and storage of the pony. As you mentioned, I replaced them with two 8mm coarse thread bolts. I seemed to have resolved the issue of the clamping lever being difficult to grasp. I adjusted the center turnbuckle to where I am able to close the lever so that the bottom is flush with the mortise. Because it's not locked and it's convex in the middle, I'm able to easily open it with my thumb and forefinger. I don't have an issue tightening the large knobs, that some have. The jaw width is advertised at 70mm from Maxita and at 2 3/4" from the shop. The actual measurement is 2 3/8". So that is just plain wrong. I looked at a few other brands including the Billim, but I'm happy I chose this one. It ain't cheap but I only cried once. Thanks for your work making the video.
Great to hear. Good call on the two screw. The grub screws are a strange choice for that situation. I’ll have to try that lever setup you mentioned. 👍🏻
Maybe they changed their design but the two grub screws I got with mine (ordered in Jan '24) were pointed on the end and are made to be completely bottomed out in the bore so that the points drive into the inner tube wall of the outer tube. I tightened them all the way down and the thing is solid as a rock.
The name "stitching pony" comes from back in the day where it looked like horse/pony (stool) because it had 4 legs and your clamp sticking up like the head of a pony and let not forget the rains aka stitching twine one in each hand 😁
Oh that’s right! I forgot about those things. Thanks!!
Hi,thank you for this great video, very informative, interesting and really well explained and presented, food for thought, I love the design of the Verter clamp, I work with leather only as a hobby, the stitching pony I use at the moment is handmade by myself, a bit crude in the looks department 🤣but works well, but after watching your video I think it is time to upgrade.
Thank you again, I have been watching your videos and have been subscribed for a quite a while now and you have helped a lot in the following techniques, preparation, stitching and the finishing of the job.
Cheers and take care
Sam
Ps in reference to getting the toggle out of the recess, have you tried a strong magnet, epoxied onto a piece of dowel ( stained and polished the same as the main piece) this then can be stored out of the way on the clamp, when not in use
Thanks for watching! I’m glad the videos have helped. That’s a good idea about a magnet, I’ll have to give it a shot.
The finest quality stitching pony I've seen was designed and fabricated by an artisan in South Korea. He made 500 units and sold them all before I came across his video. It's been two years and he's yet to make more.
The Maxita is a good design and appears to be very well made. However, there have been complaints about the screws that anchor the pony to the desk brace being too short and resulting in looseness. This can be solved by replacing the original screws with more suitable ones (as shown in the video). Also, as of the date of my post, the cherry is no longer sold and the walnut is sold out, leaving ash wood as the only remaining option at $208.
The problem with the first pony is solved by either the English or French style stitching clam. Of course, these devices are much more expensive, and the best designs are no longer made because the artisans who made them passed away.
Thanks for your thoughts on this.
There are a few different suppliers that carry the Maxita, aleatherstore, JunLinLeather and Little King Goods Supply to name a few.
Yes, the grub screws provided in the model I purchased were not sufficient. I replaced them and have never had an issue with stability.
Informative. Just getting interested in this, not even gone to the stores yet to browse due to the time of the year. It would seem someone with basic wood working knowledge could build one to match the expensive model, and aside from the wood used, it would come out way cheaper.
The woodworking part would be fairly straight forward. The tough part is finding the hardware. Obviously if you use cheap wood and similar hardware it would be significantly cheaper but it wouldn’t look as nice. Also consider the time investment to design it and make it. I considered making one and quickly realized it would end up costing significantly more.
You really don’t need any fancy parts to make your own pony - for clamping, a M6/M8 80mm bolt and nut will work just fine. I mounted the jaws in the middle of a piece of wood so in use it sits crossways under both legs- more comfortable. You could do the same with the cheapest pony.
You’re right, you don’t need a fancy stitching pony to get started. You don’t need one at all of you stitch without one. The Maxita is a beautiful tool, a significant design and consideration went into it. It’s a tool I enjoy using, the others simple get the job done.
@@NorfolkHandmade I wasn't having a go at the Maxita - clearly a lot of thought has gone into it. Really just confirming what you have said- if you're just starting out, you can make / buy satisfactory tools to get you going. I tried stitching without a pony to be very much slower compared to using one.
Great video, funnily enough my next purchase is the maxita, just gotta wait for payday 😅
Nice! You won’t be disappointed.
What color is your walls?
Black
In this video I review three different stitching clamp options, from the cheapest to the most expensive. If you are on the fence about which one to purchase, this video will help answer that question.
Cheers
Justin
Doing a little more research on the Maxita, the detailed photos reveal that the "walnut (color)" is not actually made of walnut. It is advertised as being made of an undisclosed "premium wood", but in some photos the grain doesn't match so some of these stitching clamps covered by a laminate. It's still a good stitching pony, but it isn't the quality you'd expect for the price.
Products being made of inferior materials are very common with goods made in China. This is why the material used in Chinese manufactured goods is often referred to as "Chinesium".
Interesting, of the sources I listed they all state walnut and cherry. My advice to anyone looking to purchase, ask the supplier to confirm it’s solid wood. They will be able to look at the actual product to verify. 👍🏻
The early clamps where shaped like a hobby horse and you sat on them... so stitching pony.
It makes so much sense once you hear it….lol
That little triangle always digs into my leg, can’t stand it.
I suppose that’s another con…lol, thanks for watching.